Giteau open to Wallabies return

Former Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau has not ruled out a return to Australian rugby before the 2015 World Cup despite leaving two years ago with a ''bitter'' taste in his mouth.

At 30 and after two years away, the Toulon centre says he would find it hard to knock back the chance to add to his haul of 92 Test caps but has no illusions about how hard it will be to crack top level rugby on home soil again.

''I'd love to be involved and given an opportunity but I just don't know how realistic that is,'' he said. ''I'm enjoying my rugby here. You'd never knock back the chance to play for your country but I think being over here now and not being in Super Rugby, you have those doubts about whether you still are good enough to play top level rugby like that. There are a few questions to answer first.''

Giteau has enjoyed tremendous success in France, establishing himself as Toulon's go-to inside-centre and topping a 2012 Top 14 final appearance with a Heineken Cup title this year alongside teammates Jonny Wilkinson, Bakkies Botha and Delon Armitage.

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He left Australia in sensational circumstances, a shock omission from Robbie Deans' 2011 World Cup squad after starting his time under the former Wallabies coach as Australia's first-choice five-eighth just three years earlier.

After two fruitful seasons away, Giteau admits to harbouring some bitterness early on but is adamant that it had nothing to do with being left out. ''Not getting the opportunity is OK, I've been fortunate enough to have so many coaches show a lot of faith in me and continue to pick me even if my form didn't warrant it,'' he said.

''I have no problems if a coach doesn't feel you're best suited for the group, but certainly the way I was told [about the World Cup omission] and the way things just ended left a bitter taste for me. That was my initial reaction but I feel and have nothing but fond memories of my time in Australia, and that I had the opportunity to play for Australia so many times, I'm very thankful for that.''

The departure of Deans after 5½ seasons has paved the way for change, not least among the playing group. Giteau welcomed the appointment of Ewen McKenzie, calling him the ''best man for the job''.

''With the Reds, Ewen seems to know his players, he seems to know how to motivate players and keep them interested, focused and quite disciplined as well, and that will be a big thing for the group,'' he said.

''Time will tell whether he was the right appointment but certainly change needed to be made, and I think at this point in time Ewen was probably the best man for the job. Robbie had had his opportunities at trying to build success and get the team going in a certain direction, so I feel it was time for a change.''

McKenzie has taken a ''never say never'' stance on players returning from overseas in time for the next World Cup although, in a scenario that has some parallels to the Giteau-Deans situation, the Wallabies coach left Berrick Barnes out of his first squad, saying he was more interested in players who wanted to invest in Australian rugby going into 2015. And while Giteau said the idea of a return was in the back of his mind, the former Brumby is a realist.

''I have at least this season to go [on my contract] and I might possibly reassess after that but like I said at the moment, they're all big ifs. I've got a two-year deal here, I'm enjoying my time here, my family's happy, I'm happy and I get the opportunity to play with so many great players, so I'm quite fortunate in that regard.''

Giteau and wife Bianca are raising their first child, Levi, in France and are preparing for the arrival of close friend and former Wallabies teammate Drew Mitchell, who has signed a two-year deal with Toulon.

''For me, now that some time has passed, it's been the best thing,'' Giteau said. ''I would have loved to have been involved in the [2011] World Cup, I'm not saying that I wouldn't have been. I would have done anything to have been involved in the squad, helping out however I could. But it has been a nice change … When you watch things like the [British and Irish] Lions Tests you would still love to be a part of the big games, but now that I've had a bit of success here I can let that go and wish the guys there all the best.''

29 comments so far

Keep dreamingDeans dropped him because his form was woeful and it was not a "shock" . The messiah has clearly stated he will not pick players who do not perform (apart from cooper)......??.......so, why would he think he can return to the wobblies? Giteau, at his peak was a great player, no doubt, but he is not going to push anyone aside to get a wobblie jumperWaste of column inches

Commenter

headed off

Location

Villavicencio

Date and time

August 01, 2013, 10:50PM

True dat

Commenter

Christehhh

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 11:11AM

Yes, I tend to agree with you, he is too old now anyway, but I would have swapped him (or Barnes) for McCabe at 12 for the semi of RWC 2011. At least he passed the damn ball!

Commenter

PJ man

Location

NSW

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 1:14PM

+ 1...Gits is old news...time to look forward...Toomua is the way to go...

Commenter

Simon

Location

Curl Curl

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 1:34PM

We need Gus Gould in this comments section"No, no, no, no, no."

Commenter

Grateful

Location

Sydney

Date and time

August 01, 2013, 11:27PM

2009, Murrayfield.

Scotland 9-8 Australia.

Giteau misses 4 shots at goal, including a kickable decider in injury time.

Wallabies again? Sorry, but no way.

Commenter

Wobbles

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 12:54AM

And laughed as he trotted back to his team mates.

Commenter

JB Sydney

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 8:51AM

Kickable haha - It was 20m out, right in front.To make matters worse he ran back laughing.All of those 4 kicks he missed against Scotland were easy one's.

And that wasn't the first time Git's failed to win close games in similar situations. That Scotland game was like the 3rd time he'd chocked badly when the pressure was on.Gits had tons of talent but never seemed to reach his potential.

Commenter

Waxhead

Location

Newcastle

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 9:58AM

Was at that game. Was close enough to see his face and the smirk missing.. it's burned into my retina.

It will be a cold day in hell before he plays for Australia again. The bitter taste he had in his mouth is the vitriolic bile he was dropping in/on the Australian Rugby Competition at the time - it was nothing to do with others leaving a sour taste in his mouth - but him leaving faecal sandwiches everywhere.

Applaud him for his performances at Toulon, maybe he's learned he isn't the biggest fish in the tank - but here in S15/ARU again? No thanks.

Commenter

Matt D

Location

Sydney

Date and time

August 02, 2013, 10:43AM

Maybe Australia should have tried scoring some tries rather than waiting for penalties.

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